Recent content by Chris Rau

Can o/ worms Wow! I didn't expect to open up such a multi-faceted discussion. But I appreciate everyone's insight and research. So, it looks like there is no absolute rule for the question of locked-or-freewheeling. And it appears that we are not the first to broach the topic. It is common to...

Seth, Prop Physics Hey Seth, please understand, I'm not arguing with you here. It's just that I'm an engineer and I love hashing this stuff out. I understand your airplane prop analogy. But, an airfoil operates on a totally different principle than a marine propeller. So, here is what I see...

spinning prop I recently replaced my HWB50 on the Perkins in my E34 and learned a lot about transmissions in the process. As I understand it, you can either leave it in neutral OR lock it in reverse. I have never understood how a SPINNING prop can cause drag. It seems to me that a LOCKED prop...

Access Thanks for the advice. Just for reference, here is a picture of my forepeak access. As you can see, there is not a lot of room to even make the hole bigger, though there is some. Thus, my dilema. It is counterintuitive to me that a 34 would have less access than a 27. So, I continue...

My 1978 E34T has a hawse pipe but no windlass or anchor roller. I would like to install a bow roller. But, I have no forward anchor locker and the access port through the forward bulkhead into the chain locker is only big enough for my head. I have no idea how I could reach all the way forward...

done Thanks for all the great advice. I went ahead with the drain at the mast step solution and it seems to be working pretty well for now. I still need to get up the mast and figure out where the water is comming from in the first place.

Deck Plates When I bought my E34T there were no deck plates. Luckily, it doesn't rain much in San Diego, but when it did, it got wet inside. Initially I just pumped a bunch of silicone into the gaps but that worked loose the first time the wind blew. So, I decided to do it right. I bought a...

Whenever it rains, I get a pool of water INSIDE my keel stepped aluminum mast.:boohoo: There is no drain into the bildge so the water slowly seeps out and soaks my sole and carpet and some of it eventually finds its way into the bildge. As I see it I have 3 options: 1. Climb the mast and...

Thanks Thanks for the friendly welcomes and helpful responses. I think I'm going to enjoy this lifestyle.

Fellow E34T owners I will be closing the deal on "Whisper", my '78 E34T here in San Diego within the week and I wanted to say hi. This is my first sailboat and I am encouraged by what I hear. It's good to know there are others out there and that they are well built and good sailers. I also...

I am just about to close the deal on "Whisper", my E34T sloop. She is slipped at Harbor Island West marina. Between the surveyor and myself I already have a growing todo list and I will invariably be asking a lot of questions here as this is my first boat. Mostly, I just wanted to introduce...